The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-09


their tall green vases for moment
turned me faint. Was it fancy that
the old musty incense of the jungle
where the boa lies coilcd, entered the
room with her, emitted by her white
garments2
''She glided toward me, scarcely
making sound, and my senses seemed
bound by spell
There were no forbidden airs OF
hauteur. She coicd her arms about me,
and slid her dusky check along until it
lay against mine; yet it was cool.
Il was very nearly overcome when my
aunt entered the room, brin ring a cur
rent of fresh air with her. is she not
lovely, your little Indian savagc:' point
ing TO Zobeidc, who seemed to drift
not walk-ovcr the floor to the piano,
from which she evoked such quaint
minor chords that l begged her to come
and talk to nc instead of playing.
''From that hour my soul passed out
of my body to the keeping or tbs girl.
She spoke to me carc>singly, soothingly
as child. When wcaricd of my cravings
for hcr kisses and carcsses, she would
shut herself up for hours in her own
apa tmcnts, or would gallop away over
the downs on her black horse Selim, an
Arabian l had given her.
''Wc had married in London one day
and began life in an irresponsible, un-
English way, as my aunt had said. But
were always together. If we gave no
bulls, that was mere matter OF taste. l
had once had passion for such diver
Sions. but it had died in me, as had most
passions except for my child-wife. &C.
bcidc seemed to rcvel in the county ball
at first and to gloat on the homage and
admiration she received. But very soon
she tired of that soIt thing, and even Of
her rides with Sclim, the great splendid
rooms, the library and the picture gal
lery, the lakes, the swans, and the elm
shaded avenues, with snowy statues
cleaning ghostly in the moonlight.
"She wcaried of the homage of men
and the cnvious amazcMent OF women
awe struck by her beauty long ago. She
locked herself up more often in her own
wing, and always laughingly refused to
admit me. cannot sec why did not
marvel at this, but this was no more
strange than that Igavcup hunting. VIII ch
had been passionate fancy of mine be-
fore. My aunt had laid her hand on
my brow saying:
"'IIow changed you are, Henry"
"'Non. cnscm replied. 1T is you
who arc altered. Where is Zobeide?
Always that question: she MUIR
INJURED, in a tone of distress.
"Once she pulled me into her own
chamber, saying, in way calculated to
startle mc--but it did not:
"'My dear boy, want to speak to
you. must speak now with you. Why
do YOU allow Lady Favisham to amuse
herself daily with brood of detcstable
Snakcs?'
"'Docs shc?n asked, listlcssly. My
good soul. why should I interfere if the
child really docs amuse hcrself2 Don't
worry about Zobcidc, dear; don't:'
"'No, poor boy! l wish you did"
"Strangc! IpasSed this conversation
off as if it had related to the tlanncls of
the rheumatic tenants. Yet ordinarily
should have been parplyzcd with horror
at The idea of my wife juggling with
snakes. 1t se:s my teeth on edge now
only to think of it. and it would have
made my hair stand on end had been in
my right mind.
Il was insane all that horrible sum-
mcr, when Il snake charmcr ruled at Fav-
isham Hall. the scat of Il loyal and hot
blOodcd race. Of which | WAS the last and
the least worthy.
"Ict any one who knew Lady IIar-
court at that time would not have won
dcrcd at her autocracy, l am sure Even
the servants were tinctured " the
poisonous atmoSpcrc, and only ILL.,; aunt,
who constantly went abroad. was able to
shake OF the lcadcn pail which had set
tIcl down upon us at the Hall.
">udlcnly. in obedience TO the wishes
of my physi ian. made rea ly to run
over to my shooting box in Scotlrnd. I
waS s.ubbornly firm about taking my
wife with me, although she demurred
and even wcpt when Ipresented the tour
to her. Icarried my point, and we were
away just ten days.
Lady Harcourt stipulated that her
wing of the Hall was to remain undis-
turbcd during her absence. But she en-
p c.cd fully 10 be buck within week.
My aunt hal gone to Rugby.
Il will try and describe our coming
home us intclligcntly rs pos' bic.
Il had noticed with wonderful clation
that my head was clear and my whole
mind more coherent during our absence,
as if some terrible influence had been
wanting to sway and blackcn my life.
con the contrary, my wife, although
so young and loycly, with all the world
to fall at her feet, seemed strangely i'll at
case during cur trip, and grew so ncr-
vous near ng home that she actually
lcapcl from the carriage as it drew up
before the Tall. She had coilcd herself
up in it without word. although l
talked incc SANITY OF the rains and hops.
"PcrGirs, the butler, gravely met us,
s 'yiny. Dime! waits, my Lord like
ca'l-hoy. But my wife sprang
out and rashcl of TO her own apartments
with hcr wraps on her arms, humming a
lit.lc strain Of Hindoo song which she
knew made nc partit ularly unhappy.
ii threw myself in deep chair and
broke the seal of two or three letters,
running over Their contents in the great
banquet room where the tall wax lights
farcd in their sconces, trying to be pa
ticnt until Lady Harcourt came. The
flowers wiltcd in their blue and gold
vases. the clock tickel on ominously;
still Lady ITarcourt did not appear. |
think sort of paralysis must have seized
me; yet remember that | felt satisfied
that the end had come. knew by s1me